la rue harrison



2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

M. LARUB HARRISON su F. UNDBRHILL.

WIGKET. No. 270,309. Patented, Jan. 9,1883.

; @MMM/@- N. PETERS, Fhulllhagnphnr, Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. M. LA RUE HARRISON, or WASHINGTON, D IsTRIcT on COLUMBIA, AND FRANKLIN UNDERHILL, OF STANFORD, ooNN., ASSIGNORS TO Tun TALR LOOK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or STANFORD, UONN.

WICKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,309, dated January 9, 18H3.v

Application tiled January 16, 1880. A

l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, M. LA RUE HARRISON,

of l/Vashington, District of Columbia, and

. subject to great discomfort and danger during the winter from exposure to drafts of cold air,

.which would blow through the wicket-aperture when opened for the transaction of business. Our Improvement is designed toovercome this i objection, while at the same time we preserve all the benets arising from the construction of the wicket that has heretofore been in vogue.

` To accomplish `this object we prefer to use a sliding and double automatic swinging frame, one portipn of which is fastened to and swings upon the other. a person desiring to pass anything through the wicket from either side may push it inward or outward as maybe required. To each part of the frame a spring is preferably con uected In any convenient; manner, which tendsalways to keep it closed, so that the wicket, having been pushed open ineither direction for the.

purpose of allowing anything to be passed through from either side, willimmediately close of itself as soon as the hand of the person is withdrawn.

We will now describe in detail what we conceive to be the most convenient and perfect means to accomplish the results arrived at by our invention; but we do not intend to limit ourselves to the precise method of construction shown and described in detail.

Referring to the drawings hereto appended, Figure l is a Side elevation of our improved wicket, and Fig. 2 a Vertical transverse section therethrough on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 represent a modification illustrating the wicket as swinging horizontally.

` A indicates a wieken-shelf; B, a suitable The arrangement is such that` window-frame; (l, avertically-slidiug external sash-frarne, hinged to asliding support, S, at o c; and D, an .internal glazed sash, hinged at d d.

Midway between the frontand backvof the wicket-shelf, and in line with the wicket, is a raised ledge, E. The object of this is twofold: First, it permits a step to be made in which a corresponding step of the external frame, C, lits, so that when this frame is closed by its spring it fits closely against the ledge and upright guards placed in the vertical sides of the Windowframe, and thus makes a practically airtight joint all around the wicket. The secw ond object ot this ledge is to enable any one pushing open the door and passing anythingF through t'o have sufficient space for the purpose without pushing open the door so wide as would be necessary if the door swung close to the shelf ofthe wicket, and at the same time to prevent loose stamps or the like from being blown through. One end of a piece of dat spring-wire, F, is rigidly secured tothe top of the support S, while its otherend is free and tends always to spring upward. The free end of this spring is connected by a chiainto that side of the frame U on which it Inust be pushed toopenit. When the wicketis pushed open the spring is pulled down, and when it is let go again the spring dies up and snutsit. The hinges d d are placed so as to permit the sash D to swing in an opposite direction from that of the frame C. There is also preferably a step all around the inside of the frameG, into which a corresponding step of the saslID lits when the wicket is closed. We also provide a corresponding spring, G, at the top of the window-frame, connected bya chain to the side of the sash D which is opposite to the side on which the spring of the frame C is fastened, and this spring acts in like manner to keep the sash D closed.

It will be seen that by pushing on one side both the sash D and the frame C will,.swing open together, and by pushing on the other side only the sash D will open.

The' doors, if desired, may be made to swing horizontally, and the passage of air may be lprevented by the interposition of rubber or other suitable material on the sides of thefraine.

We are by these means enabled to obtain securejoints against the passage of a draft of air in either direction, while at the same time we have the great benefitot' a Wicket which can swing in either direction. As our Wicket is hinged to a. slide, itrnay during the summer months be raised and fastened at any desired height. To prevent noise, rubber orother suitable material may be placed upon the sides of the space against which the wicket swings in closing. v Y

It will be possible to construct the ledge at the bottom, so that it can be raised with the sash, if it should be so desired; or it can be made otherwise removable.

Inside closing doors and any other of' the ordinary appurtenances ot' wickets of this kind can of course be used in connection with our invention. l

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A Wicket composed of two slidingr frames, one within theother, adapted to be swungopen in opposite directions.

2u Animproved post-office wicket, composed ot' a sliding frame having hinged to it a glass panel adapted to swingopen in either direction, and provided With suitable means for eX- cluding drafts ot'` air when the panel is closed.

3. A double hinged sliding Wicket having, when closed, airtight joints, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

M. LA RUE HARRISON. FRANKLIN UNDERHILL.

Witnesses as to F. Underhill SCHUYLER MERRITT,

E. D. OGDEN, Jr. 4 Witnesses as to Harrison MARCUS S. HOPKINS, JOSEPH I. PEY'roN. 

